Goodbye | 5 Gems

Goodbye: 5 Gems No. 14 (2026) features songs by ADONXS, AJR, Artemas, Kristinia DeBarge, and Sabrina Carpenter.

Per Artemas, “Before I have to burn you from my mind / Before we say goodbye.” Context? Sex. It’s Artemas.  That should come as no surprise! As for Sabrina Carpenter, her take on goodbye is different: “Goodbye means that you’re losing me for life.” Hmm, that’s a long, long time! And, how about our one-hit wonder, Kristinia DeBarge, who samples a huge hit by Steam? “Na-na-na-na (Hey) / Na-na-na-na (Hey) / Hey, hey, hey, goodbye (Goodbye).” Word.  The common thread between these three artists and their respective songs is the word, goodbye.  The miniature playlist at hand, Goodbye: 5 Gems No. 14 (2026), features songs by ADONXS, AJR, Artemas, Kristinia DeBarge, and Sabrina Carpenter. Enough said! Grab a pair of headphones or turn on your favorite pair of speakers, and embrace the goodbyes of this bite-sized, goodbye-driven playlist!

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1. Artemas, “before we say goodbye”	2. Sabrina Carpenter, “Goodbye”	3. AJR, “The Big Goodbye”
4. Kristinia DeBarge, “Goodbye”	5. ADONXS, “Kiss Kiss Goodbye”	5 Gems (2026)

 

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1. Artemas, “before we say goodbye”

“before we say goodbye” » Artemas » 2025

Um, excuse me, Artemas (Artemas Diamandis)? What did you say? The English pop singer, songwriter, and producer tends to be blunt, frank, overt, and most of all, sexual.  The opening lyric from the chorus of “before we say goodbye” isn’t subtle in the least.  They have already fucked, and clearly, Artemas sees no harm in fuckin’ again.  For added context, he adds, “It might just stop the hurtin’ for the night, yeah / Our bodies miss each other, so do I / Before I have to burn you from my mind / Before we say goodbye.” So, this is breakup sex. Artemas wrote and produced this passionate cut.

There are lots of things to like about “before we say goodbye.” This is another, well-produced song from Artemas.  The darker, moody synths and groove are a key part of this song’s success.  The well-rounded musical accompaniment fuels Artemas’ fire, which is both emotional and sexual. In the first verse, Artemas doesn’t want her to come around (Bullshit! 😏) but also asserts, “I wish I didn’t miss your face / I wish you didn’t touch me.”  In the pre-chorus, she’s undressing, leading to the fuckin’ chorus (literally).  In the second verse, the “jump right in” is referencing coitus… no cap! Meanwhile, in the second pre-chorus, he asserts, “You cut me with your nails 💅 /… ‘Cause you know you’ll never be / This close to me again.” Holy fuck 😜! As always, Artemas delivers an entertaining and strong vocal performance.  He’s not a powerhouse singer, but when it comes to sex, he is a powerhouse! You buy the sex that he sells, and there is no shortage of embracing pleasure, even before an inevitable breakup on “before we say goodbye”.  At least the goodbye is a hot, steamy, and ultra-passionate one!

Appears in:

Artemas, before we say goodbye: Spicy Tunez No. 6 (2026) 13 More Scintillating WE Songs (2026)

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2. Sabrina Carpenter, “Goodbye”

Man’s Best Friend » Island » 2025

The Grammy-winning pop singer-songwriter, Sabrina Carpenter, has spoken! “Goodbye” is the 12^th and final track from Carpenter’s Grammy-nominated, 2025 album, Man’s Best Friend.  A top 40 hit, “Goodbye” peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Carpenter penned this fun closer alongside Amy Allen and producer extraordinaire, Jack Antonoff.  The musical accompaniment is colorful and sleek, giving Carpenter ample fuel for the fire. It has some Baroque pop qualities. Beyond the rhythm section (keys, guitars, bass, drums), there are woodwinds, brass, strings, and mallet percussion (glockenspiel).  The ear candy is decadent.

 

Do you know who else is decadent? Sabrina Carpenter, of course! She delivers a fun and playful vocal performance.  She is spirited and exhibits a big ole personality from the jump.“Goodbye” is filled with memorable, often tongue-in-cheek lyrics.  “To show you just how much it hurts / I wish I had a gun or words / If something got lost in communication,” she sings in the first verse. Word.  In the second, she asserts, “You used to love my ass, now, baby, you won’t see it anymore.” The use of ass – brilliant! Beyond the verses, the pre-choruses are intriguing. The first pre-chorus features Japanese and Spanish (“Well, sayonara, adiós / You’re not bilingual, but you should know”),  while the second features French (“But I’ll say, ‘Arrivederci, au revoir’ / Forgive my French, but fuck you, ta-ta”). Ooh-wee, Sabrina! The chorus is the crème de la crème – memorable and tuneful to the nth degree.

“Goodbye means that you’re losing me for life

Can’t call it love, then call it quits

Can’t shoot me down, then shoot the shit

Did you forget that it was you who said goodbye?

So you don’t get to be the one who cries

Can’t have your cake and eat it too

By walking out, that means you choose goodbye.”

The bridge, like the pre-choruses, also dips into other languages (Japanese and Spanish) before concluding (“Por siempre te amo [I love you forever], wait, no / Shit, when did you get here? / Go put on some clothes”). Once again, Sabrina Carpenter delivers an infectious pop bop with “Goodbye”, a song I never want to say goodbye to because it’s the sugar honey iced tea!

Appears in:

Sabrina Carpenter, Goodbye: Bangerz N Bopz No. 18 (2026)

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3. AJR, “The Big Goodbye”

What No One’s Thinking (EP) » AJR Productions » 2025

Indeed, AJR, indeed! The alt-pop trio, comprised of the Met brothers, Adam, Jack, and Ryan, dropped a B-I-G banger with “The Big Goodbye”.  “The Big Goodbye” is the fifth and final track from their 2025 EP, What No One’s Thinking. Ryan Met, Jack Met, Leroy Van Dyke, and Buddy Black penned “The Big Goodbye.” Ryan produced it. How he did so is fascinating, demonstrated in a YouTube short 🔻.

Notably, “The Big Goodbye” samples “The Auctioneer” by The Fortunairs Barbershop Quartet.  This vintage, a cappella, old-school sound sets the tone.  Initially, the sample’s pace is quick, matching the speed of an auctioneer – duh!  Ryan re-pitched and slowed down the sample, making the pace of the auctioneer slacken (“5 hundred 25, will you give me 30, make it 30, will you give me 40, will you give me 45”).

Eventually, “The Big Goodbye” settles into the expected, eccentric AJR alt-pop sound.  That sound is lush thanks to keys and strings, rhythmic, brassy, and ornate. Jack Met delivers bright, exuberant lead vocals in all their millennial glory (He’s technically elder Gen-Z, given his 1997 birth date). Like many an AJR song, there are incredibly tuneful melodies and distinct lyrics.  Kicking things off, Jack sings in the first verse, “I wrote a song ‘bout bein’ weak / Now I hear congratulations.” Facts, “Weak” is a big deal in the AJR musical catalog.  As the verse continues, he recalls other songs from their catalog, including a personal favorite, “100 Bad Days” (“The shows that no one came to”).  Beyond the verses, the melodies are tuneful during the pre-chorus and chorus, while the lyrics are unforgettable.  “And I should be so happy I could cry,” Jack asserts in the pre-chorus, and adds, “If this is what a happy end looks like.” Uh-oh, Jack, where are we going with this, buddy?  Why, the centerpiece, the chorus, which is intact with s- and f-bombs for the win!

“Someone tell me why

Why I’m all in my head

Why you’re all on my mind

Why it feels like my friends are leaving me behind

Why I miss all the shit I’ve seen a million times

… Why the town feels like home for the first time in years

Why’d  I need to be known? They fuckin’ know me here…”

During the post-chorus, the auctioneer loop returns, prefacing a brief second verse. “Oh, I wish I could take you all where I’m headin’,” Jack sings, and adds, “Guess I could FaceTime into all of your weddings.” That’s such an AJR thing to say! After another chorus, there is a bridge, which references a ten-year reunion.  After another auctioneer interlude, Jack concludes with the outro: “Then someday I’ll sing about the shit I did / And not the shit I’ll miss / Then my whole life can sound like this.” Word.  All told, “The Big Goodbye” is a jam-packed alt-pop gem.

Appears in:

AJR, The Big Goodbye: Wacky Wednesday No. 10 (2026) 13 Memorable, Big-Time BIG Songs (2026)

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4. Kristinia DeBarge, “Goodbye”

Exposed » The Island Def Jam Music Group » 2009

It’s safe to say that Kristinia DeBarge reps that “single girl swag” hard.  If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because Kristinia is a member of the renowned musical family (James DeBarge is her father). “Goodbye” is the fourth track from her 2009 debut, Exposed.  It samples the hook and riff from the beloved 1969 Steam classic, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”. Unlike her family, “Goodbye” was DeBarge’s sole pop hit, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2011, which is worth celebrating.  Also worth celebrating is the fact that “Goodbye” is a surefire earworm, no cap! Damon Thomas, Adonis, Paul Leka, Dale Frashuer, Antonio Dixon, Gary DeCarlo, and Eric Dawkins penned it.

 

What makes “Goodbye” a bop? It begins with alluring, bright, synth-driven production.  Babyface (b. 1959) and The Pentagon. The stomping beat brings a mad attitude that gasses up Kristinia. DeBarge’s vocals keep the same energy as the accompaniment.  She brings it with assertive, confident lead vocals. She easily brings the tuneful melodies to life the verses, and especially the chorus and post-chorus.  Beyond handling the melody like a champ, she serves up some sweet ad-libs. She also gets terrific support from the background vocals. In the verses, thematically, the focus is moving on from this lame boy! In the second verse, she asserts, “Thinking of changing up how I ride / No more on the passenger’s side / Too bad you missed out on the way that I drive it.” Ooh-wee! In the pre-chorus, Kristinia has determined, “Baby, I’m gone,” leading into the totally over it chorus excerpted earlier.  The Steam classic is loud and clear, and fully appropriate in the post-chorus:

“Na-na-na-na (Hey)

Na-na-na-na (Hey)

Hey, hey, hey, goodbye (Goodbye).”

While Kristinia DeBarge didn’t strike gold beyond “Goodbye”, it’s an undeniable pop/R&B banger. The attitude-laden vocals, the electronic sound palette, and the infectious chorus, even if interpolated, carry lots of weight.  A bop to the nth degree approaching two decades later!

Appears in:

Kristinia DeBarge, Goodbye: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 2 (2026)

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5. ADONXS, “Kiss Kiss Goodbye”

“Kiss Kiss Goodbye” » Warner Music Czech Republic s.r.o. » 2025

Oh, snap, ADONXS! The dashing 😍, deep-voiced, openly gay Slovak singer (real name, Adam Pavlovčin) piques our ears with his Eurovision Song Contest 2025 single, “Kiss Kiss Goodbye”. Pavlovčin wrote “Kiss Kiss Goodbye” with CHAiLD (LUX), Maella, and Ines Coulon. Ronald Janeček, George Masters-Clark, and Lorenzo Calvo produced it. As the title and the excerpted lyrics from the pre-chorus suggest, matters of the heart play a sizable role. In the first verse, ADONXS mentions two kisses representing love and desperation. “There’s no other place to hide / Only one survives, when the night arrives / Will you be my ride or die?” In the second verse, before asking the same question, he sings, “Caught in a motion, you’re wearing me out / Tainted devotion, heart on the ground.” The section to beat, the centerpiece, is the chorus:

“Kiss, kiss goodbye (Kiss, kiss goodbye)

Kiss, kiss goodbye (Kiss, kiss goodbye)

Now keep your half apologies, drunken apathy

Over and over again

Kiss, kiss.”

ADONXS is fierce AF throughout “Kiss Kiss Goodbye.” His robust bass voice is the sugar, honey iced tea. The melodies he brings to life with his voice, including some falsetto, are nicely contoured and tuneful to the nth degree.  The musical backdrop is sleekly produced. Set in a minor key, the dramatic, choral, and orchestral music cues are epic.  The keyboards, synths, and programming are top-notch, too.  “Kiss Kiss Goodbye” is not an overtly queer song, but it feels like a necessary addition to an ever-growing queer music catalog.  ADONXS slays!

Appears in:

ADONXS, Kiss Kiss Goodbye: Beaming with Pride No. 24 (2025) Bops from 2025 That Make You Beam with Pride A Kool Kollection of K Songs (2025) 13 More Songs Where It’s All in a Kiss (2026) A Memorable Song From Each Letter of the Alphabet (2026)

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5 Gems (2026)
Almost: 5 Gems No. 1	Alone: 5 Gems No. 2	Am: 5 Gems No. 3
Big: 5 Gems No. 4	Break, Breaking, or Broken: 5 Gems No. 5	Can’t!: 5 Gems No. 6
Magic : 5 Gems No. 7	Money : 5 Gems No. 8	Mama: 5 Gems No. 9
Nut: 5 Gems No. 10	Watch: 5 Gems No. 11	Pretty: 5 Gems No. 12
Lube: 5 Gems No. 13	Goodbye: 5 Gems No. 14

 

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Goodbye: 5 Gems No. 14 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; AJR Productions, Artemas, Island, The Island Def Jam Music Group, Warner Music Czech Republic s.r.o.; Canva AI; Gordon Johnson, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

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